This episode of Mind Matters Matter is with Jacqueline Allan talking about Diabulimia – not yet recognised as an official diagnosis, Diabulimia is nevertheless a critical, serious and life limiting illness that is affecting people with Type One Diabetes today.
?Having been featured as the subject of a recent BBC documentary in which it was called ‘the world’s most dangerous eating disorder’, diabulimia is starting to get some more much needed attention and public and professional awareness.
To find out more about this illness, Jacqueline Allan, who in 2009 started the organisation Diabetics with Eating Disorders (or DWED) which today remains the only charity in the UK that advocates for and represents those with type one diabetes and eating disorders, spoke to us.
Jacqueline is the current Director of DWED and is also an associate lecturer at Birkbeck University of London where she is carrying out research for her phD into the subject of Diabulimia.
Jacqueline has a huge amount of knowledge and insight into this condition and it’s affects.
?During the conversation we talk about what Diabulimia is; the common symptoms and the acute consequences of this serious illness. We talk about the work Jacqueline is doing within the UK to help get Diabulimia recognised as a diagnosis in it’s own right and subsequently ensure that appropriate treatment is available for those with this condition.
We also chat about what appropriate treatment might look like and why this needs to differ from standard eating disorder management. Jacqueline also offers hope for people with this condition that recovery is possible.
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To find out more about Diabulimia and the organisation, Diabetics with Eating Disorders, please visit their website:
www.dwed.org.uk
?Twitter: @diabeticswithed
